DFL Gov. Mark Dayton says he’s not ready to comment on a package of tax policy changes that Republican lawmakers finalized over the weekend.

Dayton told reporters this morning that he had not yet analyzed the bill, and he expected it to be addressed during an afternoon negotiation session with GOP leaders. The tax bill includes several provisions aimed at helping businesses, including a freeze on the statewide business property tax. Dayton did say that would be a problem.

“Property tax increases have also hit homeowners and farmers and renters and senior citizens, and they’re nowhere in the bill as I understand it,” Dayton said. “So, I have problems with singling out one group: businesses, even though they certainly have a case to make about property tax increases. But so does everyone else in Minnesota.”

Still, Dayton indicated he was willing to try to find some middle ground and compromise on a tax bill. But he stressed that Republican leaders must do the same.

Dayton also had little to say about the Vikings stadium bill, which is awaiting action on the House and Senate floors.

“It’s still breathing, and they’re still in session,” he said. “So anything can happen if we get our minds together and decide we can work this out.”

The governor’s most specific comments came during an explanation of his weekend veto of legislation to allow the sale and use of more kinds of fireworks in the state.

Dayton said he understands that many people supported the bill, but there were just too many health and public safety officials lined up against it. He said he decided more fireworks would be unwise for Minnesota.

“They may be fun, but they’re also dangerous. I don’t want somebody’s eye put out, somebody’s hand blown off. I don’t want it on my conscience that I opened that door and resulted in that kind of casualty or even fatalities.”

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Any chance of just telling the Viking we have too much on the plate and you’ll have to try again next year ?

HalfNorsk

He demanded that the legislature pass a bill, hoping that they’d refuse and make him look like the beleaguered good guy. Now, facing the possibility of an actual bill being laid on his desk, he’s in a quandary. Sometimes, Guv, ya gotta lead instead of play politics.